"Hey Bunny! Bunny?! Bunny don't tell me that you're still asleep!" Kotetsu had arrived at Barnaby's apartment just after eight o'clock expecting to go into town with him. He and Barnaby had had this whole thing planned out for at least three weeks and yet, Barnaby wasn't even answering his front door. Fortunately, Kotetsu had a key, so he was able to let himself into his partner's home. As soon as the door was opened, Kotetsu found his blond partner lying on the floor. "Bunny!" Kotetsu ran to Barnaby's side and pulled him up and close to his chest. "Bunny can you hear me? Are you alright?!" Kotetsu shook Barnaby gently but received no response. Kotetsu then realised that only his breathing could be heard, Barnaby's breathing was missing…Putting Barnaby down softly back on the floor, Kotetsu placed his head on Barnaby's chest. "No…oh God, Bunny no!" Pulling out his cell phone at the speed of light, Kotetsu dialled 119.
"Emergency Services, which service do you require?"
"I need an ambulance as quickly as possible please…!" Kotetsu was put through to the local hospital.
"What is the name of the patient please? And can you give all the specific details?" The woman on the other line sounded calm and relaxed, while Kotetsu felt just the opposite.
"Barnaby Brooks Jr., he lives in an apartment block on Glebe road in the south end of Sternbild City. His apartment is on the top floor, number 38. I have only just found him unconscious, not breathing and without a pulse. To my knowledge he hasn't suffered from any medical conditions and has not received any recent injuries and - oh God he's turning blue!" Indeed, Barnaby's face was going a dark turquoise from the lack of oxygen.
"Sir, I need you to calm down. I have sent an ambulance team your way and they should be with you at any minute, but for the moment, I need you to do exactly as I say. Tell me your name?" How the hell is this meant to help? Kotetsu thought to himself.
"My name is Kotetsu Kaburagi."
"Alright, Mr. Kaburagi. First, I need you to tilt, Mr. Brooks' head back to open his airway." Kotetsu did as the woman said; making sure to keep her on the other line. "Next, I want you to gently pinch Mr. Brooks' nose and take a deep breath." Kotetsu didn't need to be told what to do next, it was all common sense. Kotetsu could admit that he was a bit of a clown for his age, but he wasn't completely brain-dead. "I take it that you have started Mouth to Mouth Resuscitation, that's good. Now I need you to put one hand onto Mr. Brooks' chest and then interlock your other hand on top." Kotetsu knew what was coming; he knew that he had to do it to say Bunny's life…but he didn't want to. Kotetsu was scared of breaking one or two of Barnaby's ribs and maybe accidently piercing a lung. However, he got himself into position and was ready for the next instruction. Suddenly, the front door flew open and four Paramedics in white came flooding in.
"The Paramedics have arrived, thank you for your help, goodbye." Kotetsu got to his feet and one of the Paramedics, a female, tried to get him away for his partner as the defibrillators came into focus. "Oh God, Bunny! No please, I have to be with him!" As two Paramedics continued their attempts to resuscitate Barnaby, the female Paramedic and another, a male, tried to calm Kotetsu down.
"Charge to 300! CLEAR!" Barnaby's body convulsed from the shock of the defibrillator's charge. "No response, charge to 360! CLEAR!" Again, Barnaby's body shook.
"There's still no response…!"
"NO!" Kotetsu felt tears rolling down his cheeks as he tried to get the two Paramedics off of him.
"ONE MORE TIME! CHARGE TO 460! CLEAR!" Barnaby's body convulsed but this time, he started to cough and gag. "We have a pulse! Mr. Brooks can you hear me, do you know where you are?"
"K-Ko-tet-su…!" Barnaby moaned as an oxygen mask went over his nose and mouth. The two Paramedics holding Kotetsu back finally let him go. Kotetsu ran to his partner's side as he was being lifted onto a stretcher. Barnaby weakly held up his hand for Kotetsu to take. He did and squeezed it tightly, tears still cascading down his face. "I-I'm s-so-rry…" Barnaby began coughing again.
"No Bunny, don't be, it's alright now…everything's gonna be okay, I promise…!" Kotetsu smiled at his partner and let his hand go as the Paramedics lifted the stretcher to transport Barnaby to the ambulance. Kotetsu following behind, sent Bunny a thumbs up and weakly, but surely, Bunny returned the gesture.